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Lauren started to laugh.
“What?”Joy asked.
“I’m glad the requirement to be invited is to be a jam-maker,” Lauren said, still chuckling.
“It’s an odd requirement,” Joy said.
Sage tossed her long hair, and Lauren caught the last whip of it.“That’s not what I meant.I meant it’s hard to make jam, so she’s probably a good cook.”
“Which we just established wasn’t a requirement,” Lauren said.
But Joy had already started saying, “I didn’t think we were inviting anyone new.”She looked to the two ladies in the back seat and then to Lauren.“Bea comes to Texas every month for Supper Club, and she hosts at a restaurant.”
Lauren didn’t want to be the one to say it, but she knew Bessie and Sage wouldn’t.She still gave them a pause to do so, but when neither of them spoke up, she drew a big breath.
“I know Cass says she’s just going for the summer, but guys, she cleaned out her whole house.”
“No, she didn’t,” Joy said.“All of the beds are there.”
“None of the storage is,” Lauren said.“She took her holiday decorations, Joy.All of her clothes, not just her swimwear and fancy vacation clothes.”Cass dressed better than anyone Lauren knew, and she worked in the corporate world.She saw good fashion daily, and Cass was above all of that.
“She’s moving there permanently, guys.She just hasn’t listed her house for sale yet.”She cast a look at Joy, who wore an expression of disbelief.Lauren didn’t say more.Joy already knew; she just hadn’t accepted it.
“Then they’ll come together,” Bessie said into the silence that had joined them in the minivan.
Lauren gave a small shake of her head, but she didn’t make it big enough for Bessie to see behind her.No, Cass and Bea weren’t going to keep flying to Sweet Water Falls for Supper Club.Laurenfeltit deep in her soul.
She hadn’t planned on saying anything quite yet, but now felt like the right time.“I’m thinking of coming here to stay with Cass for a few months.”She eased her foot onto the brake and came to a stop at a red light.
She looked at Joy, who wore the widest eyes Lauren had ever seen.“Oh, come on, Joy.You could too.”
“If you all come for the summer, only Sage and I will be left in Texas,” Bessie said.
“Thenyoucould fly here for Supper Club,” Lauren said, meeting her eyes in the mirror again.“Things are changing again, guys.That’s the truth of the matter.”
“She just needs a new start,” Joy said, speaking of Cass.“She stayed in Texas for a long time, in that house, alone.”
“I think she’ll be happy here,” Lauren said.“And I think I’ll stay longer than the summer.My job has offered me a new position in the company, and it’s out of Miami, but they’re willing to let me work remotely and go to Florida a couple of times a month, or as necessary.”
“So you can work anywhere,” Joy said.
“Yes.”Lauren got the van moving again.“I know Bea’s here, but she’s with Grant, and their marriage is still new.I can—and want to—be here for Cass.”
Joy nodded, but she said nothing.Lauren knew the other woman so well that she knew Joy’s mind now ran a hundred miles an hour.She worked as a classroom reading aide, and school was out for the summer.She too could come live on Hilton Head for two months.She didn’t have children at home; her divorce had been final for almost eighteen months now.
“Don’t say anything to anyone, please,” Lauren said.“Cass told us she’d be here for the summer, and I’m just assuming she won’t come back.”
“I think you’re right,” Sage said.
“Yeah,” Bessie said with a sad sigh.“Me too.”
“Let’s enjoy the weekend,” Lauren said.“Fireworks tomorrow night.Supper Club the day after.And then two days on the beach before we have to go home.”She smiled around at everyone, glad when they returned the gesture.
“We won’t say anything, right, ladies?”Joy twisted to look at Bessie and Sage, and they all agreed.She faced the front again.“All right.Now.”She exhaled in a long breath.“I need to find a handsome man over fortyI’mwilling to relocate for.”
She gave Lauren a cat-like smile, and Lauren burst out laughing again.Joy did too, and Bessie and Sage joined in.
“Don’t we all?”Lauren asked, and once again, her thoughts traitorously moved to Blake Williams.Why, she didn’t know, but she found herself hoping he’d be sitting with Grant at tomorrow night’s fireworks.
